PPQ Parts Manufacturing Company Software Recommendations Report

Introduction
The purpose of this recommendation report is to analyze six software systems designed to perform the
functions of materials requirements planning (MRP), capacity requirement planning (CRP), and enterprise resource
planning (ERP). Below are the pros and cons of each of the six software systems that were evaluated. Cost,
compatibility with current systems, work flow processes, functionality, ease of use, and end user support will all be
compared.
Six Software Systems Evaluated
1) SAP
SAP is Systems, Applications, and Products. It is utilized in data processing as an ERP system. Being a
complex system, a systems analyst with programming skills would need to be the person working with this
system to implement it. SAP is doing its very best to reduce the amount of time an actual human being
has to spend doing customized configuration work for a particular client. Just like the other ERP package
leaders, SAP is doing all it can to reduce the actual time spent configuring the system (Reed, 2011).
Normally used in the following types of businesses:

Manufacturing

Accounting

Human Resources

Banking

2) Oracle
This software is one of the most utilized and collectively understood software and is integrated with many
software programs. It is one of the seamlessly built software systems that it is remarkably reliable (Oracle,
2011). It is one of the most popular. The following types of businesses utilize it:

Accounting

Call Centers

Banking

3)

Supply Chain Management

Asset Management

Microsoft
Microsoft offers all types of business software solutions for all three MRP, CRP, and ERP. The Microsoft
SQL which has become ever popular works with servers in database applications (Microsoft, 2011).
Microsoft has a suite of business software that offers seasoned and experienced methods. Converting over
to this solution would be easier than most systems because it is adaptable.

4)

All types of businesses

IBM
IBM offers similar packages as Microsoft. ERP solutions from IBM are very versatile (IBM, 2011). The
types of businesses that would utilize this are as follows:

Financial

Asset Management

Customer Relations Management

Order Inventory

Manufacturing

Human Resources

5) PeopleSoft
Oracle is affiliated with PeopleSoft Enterprise applications. This software is utilized in the industry for
very complex and comprehensive businesses. PeopleSoft is an integrated software package that provides
a wide variety of business applications to assist in the day-to-day execution and operation of business
processes. Each individual application, such as the following (PeopleSoft, 2011):

Financial

Customer Relationship Management

Human Resources


6)

Order Inventory

Sage
This is an ERP software (Sage, 2011). It is a combination of management and financial software with a
multitude of financial support options. It is functional and can be easily customized. It is typically used in
the following types of businesses:

Accounting

Manufacturing

Business Software Solutions

Pros and Cons of Software Selected for Evaluation

Below is a chart showing the pros and cons for the selected software systems that are being evaluated. Just
the choice comments were selected for the chart below to make analyzing each system more concise and organized.
Please review the following:

Selected Software
SAP

Oracle

Microsoft

Pros
o Largest inter-enterprise software
company
o Functionality
o Automated on several levels
which provides good help with
workflow

Cons
o Needs to be customized
o Need staffing to support
programming changes
o Maintenance is high cost
o To implement may take several
years with customization

o Provides reliability
o Ability to integrate with
databases easily
o Utilized with many programs
and software packages
o Easy to work with

o Need vendor to assist with facets

of system
o Need a skilled programmer to be
able to create home grown
reports that work with system
o Some data is not easily
transferred or used with other
software packages.
o Customization is needed
o Third party programming
changes not supported under
maintenance
o Can be used with all types of
businesses but may not be

o Works with all types of

businesses
o ERP comes with great security
o SQL server integration works
perfectly
o Real time data is accessible

IBM

PeopleSoft

Selected Software
Sage

o Data transmissions are easy

o Automated business processing
is flexible
o Reports are easily created and
utilized
o MRP manages inventory and
order processing easily
o ERP very versatile
o Functionality flexible
o ERP makes this all centralized
with production, sales schedule,
production, intangible, assets,
HR, financials, and materials.
o Provides a wide variety of
business applications to assist in
day-to-day business
o Ability to expand
o Has web based applications
Pros
o MRP integration with project
management
o Flexible
o Ability to work with business
processes
o Configuring is quick

exactly workable.

o Customization is needed
o Third party programming
changes not supported under
maintenance
o Can be utilized with all
businesses but might not be the
best fit.

o Need vendor to work with facets

of package especially with
ordering

o
o
o
o

Cons
Very expensive
ERP not good for distribution
Maintenance on system high cost
Conversion and implementation
may take a long time and high
cost

Comparison of Software Selected for Evaluation

Compare

SAP

Oracle

Cost

Expensive

Inexpensive

Ease of Use

Difficult

Average

Workflow

Difficult

Functionality

Microsoft

IBM

PeopleSoft

Sage

Inexpensive

Inexpensive

Expensive

Easy

Easy

Average

Average

Average

Easy

Easy

Average

Average

High

High

High

Limited

Average

Average

End User Support

Expensive

Expensive

Average

Inexpensive

Inexpensive

Compatibility

High

Average

High

Inexpensive

Inexpensive
High

Average

Average

Recommendation
Based on the information researched in this document shows that PPQ Parts Manufacturing Company
would benefit from utilizing the Microsoft software system to implement MRP, ERP, and CRP. As you can see
from the statistics, it is inexpensive, easy to use, workflow is easy, functionality is high, end user support is average,
and compatibility high. It appears to offer the best for the price. The next best system would be IBM. It is also all
the things that Microsoft is except that the functionality is limited. Both would be able to be customized if necessary
and the companies have a great chance of staying in business to support the systems.

References
IBM. (2011). Enterprise resource planning solutions. Retrieved from
http://www.ibm.com/solutions/alliance/us/en/index/erp.html
Microsoft. (2011). Microsoft Dynamic. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/enus/dynamics/default.aspx?tab=1&sub=erp&CR_CC=200007711&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=Search&CR_SCC=2000
07711
Oracle. (2011). Oracle. Retrieved from http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/peoplesoftenterprise/index.htm
PeopleSoft. (2011). What is PeopleSoft? Retrieved from http://www.peoplesoft-planet.com/whatispeoplesoft.html

Reed, J. (2011). The Pros and Cons of SAP Configuration Skills: An Updated Classic. Retrieved from
http://www.jonerp.com/content/view/148/46/
Sage. (2011). Sage. Retrieved from http://www.sage.ie/store/accounts/sage-500.aspx